David
CUNLIFFE

Labour Leader
12 May 2014 MEDIA STATEMENT

Labour will set 4% unemployment target

The next Labour Government will set a target of reaching four per cent unemployment by the end of its first term and run Government surpluses to pay down National’s record debt, says Labour Leader David Cunliffe.

“Labour’s priority is to create better jobs that pay higher wages for New Zealanders. That’s why a major target for the next Government will be getting the unemployment rate back to the levels of the last Labour Government, before National came to power.

“We will do this through our Economic Upgrade which will focus on investment, innovation and industry to create better jobs for Kiwis.

“Our Reserve Bank Upgrade and universal KiwiSaver will help our exporters create better jobs by tackling our overvalued exchange rate as well as boosting investment which our capital gains tax will ensure gets to productive industries.

“Our manufacturing, forestry, KiwiBuild and NZ Power policies will cut costs and provide support to business, enabling them to create jobs.

“The next Labour Government will continue the party’s tradition of fiscal responsibility. The previous Labour Government ran nine surpluses in a row compared to the five deficits under National. The Government I lead will run surpluses every year unless there is a significant downturn.

“This will ensure we can reduce the record debt this Government has built up over five years.

“Labour is the only party that has the policies to get Kiwis back into work while ensuring the Government’s books are back in the black,” David Cunliffe says.

ENDS

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